The ten monster property deals of 2023 from $33 million to $76 million
Ten buyers spent more than $517 million alone on the very top tier of Aussie real estate in 2023.
The half-a-billion-dollar splurge was for waterfront mansions mostly in Sydney’s salubrious Bellevue Hill and Point Piper, where almost all homes had a postcard view of the Harbour Bridge, or colossal apartments yet to be finished that will one day hover high above glittering inner-city Melbourne.
The most expensive sale of 2023 – $76 million for a Bellevue Hill manor – was still well short of the 2022 crowning sum. In 2022, Atlassian software mogul Scott Farquhar spent an unmatched $130 million on Uig Lodge, a four-bedroom house built in a Scottish baronial castle, in Point Piper.
Here’s the inside word on ten huge deals that rocked the highest end of real estate in 2023…
Bellevue Hill, Sydney, $76 million
The significant estate sold to wholesale flower businessman Leo Lynch, The Sydney Morning Herald’s Lucy Macken reported.
The 4287-metre estate, Leura, overlooks the Harbour Bridge and Opera House and has a pool with a gazebo, tennis court and stately rooms. It was added to the NSW Heritage Register in 1999.
Point Piper, Sydney, $69 million
The grand, Spanish Mission-style mansion on the water offers a holiday way of life.
“Completely renovated on a 1200sqm block, this property has stunning views and the choice of either the waterfront pool or a private beach when they want to take a dip,” the listing says.
Such is the privacy at this level of the market, there are no interior shots of the trophy home on the listing. Domain confirmed the sale in its End of Year Wrap report.
Bellevue Hill, Sydney, $61.5 million
The new residence won a Master Builder’s Association award in 2021.
It has been crafted in a “classical style”, according to builder GNC Quality (outlined on their website) and appears to have a wine tasting room, intricately decorative ceilings, deep terraces and a swimming pool.
The architecture and interior design was in the hands of Phil Abrams, Michael Suttor and Thomas Hamel.
Point Piper, Sydney, $60 million
The house named Akuna was sold by Sydney FC owner Scott Barlow and his wife Alina, The Sydney Morning Herald reported, after 12 months as the custodians.
On the harbour, it is known for its landmark pagoda boathouse – a beautiful accouterment to the three-level home, which has a pool metres from the water’s edge.
The new owner will gaze beyond the boathouse to a sensational postcard vista of the Harbour Bridge.
Darling Point, Sydney, $55 million
The block of four apartments on the water sold collectively. They cost a mere $2.55 million in 1996, Domain’s property profile shows.
Known as the Serena complex, it was built in the 1990s and the lawn runs down to the harbour, with a built-in pool on the edge. The Harbour Bridge, like at so many other properties on this list, is in full, jaw-dropping proximity.
The apartments have deep balconies and terraces to soak in the view.
Tamarama, Sydney, $45 million
Named Lang Syne, it was marketed as one of the great addresses of Sydney and it is hard to disagree, occupying one of the largest oceanfront blocks in the eastern suburbs.
High above the rocks and rolling waves, it was owned by the same family for 63 years.
With no other properties on either side – an absolute rarity – the view from the brick abode spans Bondi to Mackenzies Bay, Tamarama and Bronte.
Lavender Bay, Sydney, $42.2 million
Named Idlemere, this glorious estate speaks to old Sydney and set a new benchmark for north shore real estate. The eastern suburbs have long dominated the stratosphere of the Sydney market, but here was an exception.
The deal for the deep harbour-front home was inked in late 2022 but came to light in early 2023.
The 1880’s residence is so close to the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park, the new owner can almost reach out and touch them, and the position of home’s boat shed is nothing short of incredible.
Melbourne CBD, $39 million
The Block’s star buyer Adrian Portelli made waves in real estate off camera, smashing a Melbourne price record as the new owner a $39 million penthouse.
The property crowning Sapphire By The Gardens, a sparkling new dual-tower hotel and residence in the city, is a shell. Portelli will customise it – including a showpiece supercar he owns, which was craned into the 57th floor residence, overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Carlton Gardens.
The Sapphire pad marginally broke the previous Melbourne apartment price record of $38 million.
A sub-penthouse in Sapphire By The Gardens is currently for sale (listing above).
Southbank, Melbourne, $38 million
On Level 75, the apartment will be one of the highest residences in Australia and set a statewide apartment record at the time of the off-the-plan sale (later broken by the Sapphire penthouse). It will loom large in one of a pair of towers that will be the nation’s tallest building.
The development, STH BNK by Beulah, will dwarf next-door skyscrapers Eureka and Australia 108 (right now the tallest building in the southern hemisphere).
STH BANK comprises two towers, with a twisting green spine of gardens. One will be 356 metres high, the other 275 metres.
Coopers Shoot, New South Wales, $33.65 million
The sale of the hinterland oasis set a NSW north coast record. Tom and Emma Lane, of the Oroton fashion empire family, listed the special property, named The Range.
The homestead mixes European influences with sustainable and recycled touches, including 300-year-old reclaimed Croatian terracotta roof tiles as flooring.
Several outdoor dining areas make the most of the climate and the estate includes The Fishing Shack, The Barn Studio and The Cabin Inn, as additional accommodation.
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